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This publication and all mechanical aspects and designs are protected under U.S. copyright law

© 2021 Colorado Animatronics

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Congratulations! You are now a proud owner of your very own animatronic. This User Manual will help you get started.

Please read through the whole manual before setting up or using your new animatronic. The warnings and instructions contained in this manual are for your safety. Failure to follow the safety warnings may result in serious injury.

This manual contains information that is subject to change. We will work continually to improve the product and update this manual. The images in this manual are provided for your reference and may alter slightly from your experience. For the most up to date version of this manual, please visit coloradoanimatronics.com.

This user manual must always be kept with your animatronic and should remain with the animatronic if it is transferred or sold.

Colorado Animatronics Customer Service is here to help.

If you need help with maintenance and troubleshooting, please feel free to get in touch with Colorado Animatronics Customer Service. Please visit coloradoanimatronics.com or email us at info@coloradoanimatronics.com.

This Manual Contains:

● Safety; This animatronic uses pneumatics, which could potentially be dangerous if used incorrectly. Please follow all instructions and guidelines to ensure safety.

● About; You will learn about the operating principles and familiarize yourself with your animatronic. It may be tempting to skip this section, but understanding how your animatronic works will be helpful every time you use it.

● Setting up your animatronic; It is important you follow these instructions to ensure your animatronic works properly.

● Programming your animatronic; Learn how to program your animatronic and make your first show.

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Safety

● Keep your work area clean and well lit. Dark or cluttered areas invite accidents.

● Allow enough room for your animatronic to move. Do not set up your animatronic in a place where it could hit anything or anyone. We wouldn't want any accidents.

● Keep children and bystanders away from the animatronic while it is operating. Please do not touch the animatronic while it is moving.

● Your animatronic is heavy and could fall down if not properly secured. The animatronic may do quick/jarring movements that could knock it over. Your animatronic should be secured/bolted down, especially at night.

● Do not use extension cords with your air compressor. Read all safety and setup instructions for your air compressor.

● Stay alert, watch what you're doing and use common sense when using your animatronic.

● Always make sure to air down and unplug your animatronic before servicing it.

● The metal portions of your animatronic may be subject to rusting. Please keep all water away and store your animatronic in a dry area.

● Never attempt to identify the source of a leak while the controller is on.

● Never leave your air compressor on while your animatronic is not in use.

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About Your AH-100 has four main components:

• The animatronic mech • The controller • Your computer • Your air compressor

Once initial setup is performed, the user will primarily interact and control the animatronic through the computer. The computer is connected to the controller through a USB cable. The controller is connected to the AH-100 through air tubes.

AH-100 System Dissection Your AH-100 can be broken down into several systems based on the primary functions they serve:

• Your computer – Your computer will be running a special software called Vixen Lights. This program is normally used to turn on/off Christmas lights. However, it works perfectly with animatronics. Instead of turning Christmas lights on and off, you’ll be turn animatronic movements on and off. You can add music tracks and even schedule shows to start at certain times.

• Your air compressor – We recommend an air compressor with a minimum of 3 gallons for good results. You’ll also need an air hose that connects to your air compressor on one end and connects to the controller on the other end via a female quick connect adapter.

• The controller – Your controller combines electronic signals from the computer and the air power from the air compressor and diverts it to the correct tube.

• The animatronic mech – This is the main component which is powered by pneumatics.

How it works The AH-100 mech, short for mechanism, runs purely on pneumatics (air). The actual animatronic itself has no electronics in it. When your computer sends a signal to activate a certain movement on the animatronic, it goes directly to the animatronic. The controller then lets air flow in the correct tube. The tubes connect to the pneumatic cylinders in the animatronic. When air is sent through one tube, the cylinder extends. And when it’s sent through the

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other, it retracks. The cylinders are attached to a mechanism that could do a range of things such as close/open the eyelids or the mouth. The air cylinders can also be adapted to create rotary motion such as turn a head. Your air compressor creates the air pressure that is needed to activate the air cylinders.

Unpacking

Estimated Time: 10 minuets

Your AH-100 will arrive in 1 box unless otherwise stated. Your box will contain all the components needed to build your AH-100. Most of it has already been done. You may need a box cutter or scissors for this step.

Please inspect your box for damages before opening!

Remove everything carefully from the box. Some items will be wrapped in paper or bubble wrap, remove it carefully. Be extra careful with the controller, as it has loose wires that could be cut easily. Lay everything out in front of you. You may need an open space for this.

Verify Your Shipments Contents

Please make sure you have everything listed below. In an effort to improve your experience, there may be additional items that we include with your shipment.

Pneumatics:

• 4x Inline Flow Controllers • 4x Small Tube Lengths • 4x Long Tube Lengths • 1x Roll of Teflon Tape

Controller:

• 1x USB cable • 1x Controller

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Pneumatic Assembly Estimated Time: 20 Minuets

1. Unpack everything carefully and make sure to not cut any wires or damage your product. Remove all tape. 2. Do not set any of the electronics on metal or anything that will conduct Electricity. 3. Insert the push to connect fittings into the cylinders, if it has not already been done for you.

4. Find the pneumatic solenoid bank and the short tubes. 5. Insert each short tube into the inline flow controller. This is called a push to connect fitting and it will create an airtight seal. Look for a tiny arrow on the inline flow controller. This arrow shows the direction of the flow of air. Make sure it points toward the long tube. The short tube should go on the other side. Do this for all 4 inline flows.

Short tube

Long tube

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5. Connect the long tube to one of the push to connect fittings on the AH-100. It doesn’t matter which one. Do this for all of them. 6. Take one of the 2 cylinders and find two tubes that you connected to it in last step. Make sure the two tubes are grouped together like the picture below.

7. The two tubes should be in the same red box pictured above. Attach the tubes onto the 2 push to connect fittings on the cylinder. It doesn’t matter which group of fittings you plug the tubes into. 8. Do this for the other cylinder/movement as well. 9. Power up your air compressor and fill the tank. Familiarize yourself with your air compressor if you are not already. 10. Attach one end of your air hose to the air compressor and the other end to the quick connect fitting on the solenoid bank. 11. Set the air pressure to 20 or 25 PSI (This might change based on a number of factors including elevation or compressor brand) and allow the air to flow to the solenoid bank. 12. Look to see if any of the air cylinders have extended. 13. If any of the air cylinders have extended, turn off the air supply to the solenoid bank and switch the 2 tubes at either the solenoid bank or the cylinder. 14. Turn back on the air. None of the cylinders should be extended. Find the 2 red buttons on the solenoid bank. Pressing the button should extend the cylinder. 15. Turning the knob on the inline flow control valve will adjust how fast the air cylinder extends and retracks. Adjust the knob for the eyelid so the movement extends at the correct speed. This is up to you, but the standard is the eyelid should “blink” (~1 second). The mouth cylinder should be a bit faster (~0.5 second).

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Software Setup

Estimated Time: 30 Minuets Steps:

1. Make sure you are running Windows 7 or higher 2. Download Vixen lights Release 3.5u4. This is the version that will be

referenced in this manual. You are welcome to download a more recent one, however the user interface may have changed. Go to vixenlights.com/downloads/vixen-3-downloads/

3. Open Vixen Lights

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4. Click setup display

5. Change Debugging Values to Generic Serial then click the green plus

button under controllers

6. Name it “Arduino”. Click OK

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7. Set the outputs to 2. Click OK. This manual shows 8 outputs. Ignore

this, there should only be 2.

Your screen should look like this:

8. Go to the elements panel. Change LipSync to Single Item. Then click

the green plus sign

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9. Name the first one “1”

10. Repeat steps 8-7 for the second output.

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11. Go under the elements panel and click 1. It should be highlighted.

Hold down shift and click 8. All numbers 1-8 should now be highlighted.

12. Next, go under the controller panel. Click Arduino. It should be

highlighted.

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13. Next, go under the Patching panel. Find the big button that says, “Patch Elements”. Click it.

14. Go under the patching panel and click where it says “Graphical View”

15. When you click Graphical View, this is what it should look like. 1 should

be connected to Output 1, 2 should be connected to Output 2 etc.…

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16. Find the blue cable (or white cable) in the box.

17. Select OK on the bottom right-hand corner.

18. Close Vixen Lights.

19. Take the blue cable and connect one end of it to the Arduino and the

other to a USB port on your computer. 20. Open Vixen Lights again.

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21. Click Setup display.

22. Select Arduino under the controller panel.

23. Find the button shaped like a gear under the controller panel. Click it.

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24. Check the box next to “Send a text header”. Type in ~!

25. Now click “Setup/Change Serial Port”

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26. Now change all the settings so it looks like the photo below. Port name should be filled out on your computer.

26. Click OK 27. Click OK again

You are now done with the software installation and setup.

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Programming

1. Connect your Arduino to your computer (Always do this first before opening Vixen)

2. Open Vixen Lights 3. Select new sequence

4. Click Tools>Audio>Associate Audio

5. Select an audio file that you want to program your animatronic to. 6. Push the space bar on your keyboard. The Audio should start playing.

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7. Go over to the top left-hand corner. Find the Set Level option.

8. Drag it over to the timeline. When the green bar hits the note, it will active one of the air cylinders. You can resize the note and you can copy and paste it for faster editing

9. Keep adding notes to make your show better! 10. When you are done go to Sequence>Save to save your work.

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11. To access your shows, look here under “Recent Sequences”.

Recent Sequences

will go here